Field Of Technology
The present invention generally relates to field of providing component replacement and more particularly to the field of providing replacement for components with hazardous substances, during product development under regulatory environmental compliance.
Background
Product development is a broad field dealing with the design, creation, and marketing of new products. Sometimes referred to as new product development (NPD), the discipline is focused on developing systematic methods for guiding all the processes involved in getting a new product to market.
Product development, particularly related to electronic products requires electronic components to be mounted on printed circuit boards. These electronic components are invariably made up of hazardous substances like Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) etc. There are predefined limits (e.g. expressed in ppm (Parts per million) (weight)) beyond which hazardous substances cannot be used in a product development process. This requires replacement of hazardous components with "environment friendly" alternatives. These environment friendly alternatives may be mandated /approved by different regulatory compliance bodies via compliance definitions like RoHS and corresponding jurisdictions of various countries.
However, finding such a replacement for hazardous components is a complex and challenging task. This is because of various reasons including but not limited to
- Alternate components may not simply be available
- lack of component characteristics needed to identify the relevant component & other attribute information
- Such a replacement may require design change in the product itself and/or development of the alternate component in collaboration with suppliers at a cost Due to overhead costs of conducting testing of the product to check it's performance and it's comparison with the original product

- Because of additional changes that may be needed to qualify a product to meeting
different compliances
The state of the art solutions provide compliance data management, compliance definition management, capturing compliance data from suppliers, track compliance of the parts and roll-up to products and compliance reporting but do not provide component replacement processes and workflows for alternate part identification and approval.
Also, a plethora of software tools are available in market for compliance data management and reporting but they fail to provide RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) component replacement processes/workflow features.
The services provided by such tools are
- Compliance definition management
- Capturing compliance data from suppliers, validation and approval
- Compliance data for each part , validation of compliance status based on the definition and roll-up compliance status to the products level
- Compliance reporting
United States Patent, 7,251,569, Avila, et al., Method and Apparatus for determining material breakdown and product compliance relates to a method and apparatus for calculating the material breakdown and compliance status of a product to facilitate compliance with extended producer responsibility environmental regulations. 7,251,569, Avila, as described and claimed is a system (and method) only for "analyzing" a product to determine its compliance status with predefined regulations and does not provides a replacement method for replacing hazardous components with appropriate components.
United States Patent 7,818,221 Fichtinger, et al., "Method and apparatus for variable regulatory or conditional use compliance maximizing use of available inventory" provides a method and apparatus for managing variable regulatory compliance in a supply chain. The "process" as defined in herein identifies a variable regulatory compliance [which is a percentage of a given attribute of the production order in compliance with order compliance rules] for a production order. Thereafter the process selects a set of

compliant parts [which is a minimum no. of complaint parts required to satisfy variable regulatory compliance] based on a compliant supply-demand ratio. The process selects a set of non-complaint parts based on a non-compliant supply-to-demand ratio. Thereafter process generates a list of recommended parts for use in manufacturing a product specified by the production order. The list of recommended parts comprises the set of compliant parts and the set of non-compliant parts.
Thus, United States Patent 7,818,221 Fichtinger, et al., relates to conditional compliance of rules and regulations for maximizing use of available inventory for a production order in a supply chain. As such, here the compliance is done only to such an extent that is required to meet predefined regulations. Thereafter, even non-compliant parts are choosed, once the minimum compliance criteria have been met. Hence, it fails to provide a streamlined and reliable method for providing appropriate replacements of hazardous components.
United States Patent Application, 20060253336, Lin; Duncan Ta-Te; et al., "Data collection system and method", relates to a component data collecting system and method for collecting component data required for product fabrication and procurement and determining whether the component data comply with approved regulations. It does not provide a set of well interconnected component replacement processes for developing and assisting identification of alternate components.
United States Patent Application, 20070160721, LEE; CHUNG-I; et al., "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUDITING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OF A PRODUCT", merely analyzes the maximum concentrations of the hazardous substances in each homogeneous material and components in the product composition analysis by weight of the homogeneous materials. Based on that it determines whether the maximum concentration of each hazardous substance in each homogeneous material and components in the product complies with ROHS specifications or not. Hence, it does not suggest any replacement strategy as such but is only concerned with finding of hazardous substances in components and thereafter forwarding the result to suppliers (and purchasers).
United States Patent Application, 20080154749, D'hooghe;Dries;et al.,
'Integrated System and Method for Improved Product Substance
Compliance", is directed to a computerized system and method to allow manufacturers to

ensure that their products are free of environmentally undesirable substances, e.g. toxic elements and chemicals, and thus comply with government substance regulations. United States Patent Application, 20080154749, also does not discloses or suggest in any way that hazardous /non-complying components can be replaced with any other components and once hazardous components have been identified it provides no teaching as to how to replace them with other components (i.e. preferably with non-hazardous components).
However, none of said documents provide a comprehensive and streamlined replacement method that meets above mentioned and many more challenges. Due to the lack of availability of component replacement processes automation, an end user manages the desired component replacement manually that in lag efficiency, being more time consuming.
Hence, there is long felt need for a streamlined replacement method for replacing hazardous components with non-hazardous components or relatively less hazardous substances) that also helps in enhancing the collaboration with the suppliers to shorten the cycle time and thereby improving productivity.
The present invention provides a streamlined alternate component replacement processes and associated sub processes in an integrated PLM (Product Life Cycle Management) including but not limited to meet RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance regulations. The present invention also helps in enhancing the collaboration with the suppliers for shortening the Product development cycle time and hence improving the productivity.
Summary
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for providing component replacement, the method comprising the steps of generating a component validation request by a configured processor of a first electronic device operable by a component engineering unit said component validation request comprising of components that require compliance validation and said components comprising of a plurality of parts ; determining degree of compliance of parts of components based on predefined standards by said first electronic device; identifying missing data based on said determination , and routing said component validation request towards a second electronic device operable by a component supplier

unit, by said first electronic device ; Interfacing with said second electronic device of the component supplier unit by said first electronic device for providing technical assistance and validating parts of said components; collecting ,updating and storing data based on said interfacing by the first electronic device; reviewing and validating said component validation request for performing component qualification by a third electronic device and; determining non-compliant part(s) based on said component qualification by said first electronic device coupled with said third electronic device.
According to an another embodiment of the present invention identification of replacements for non-compliant parts(s) comprises of integration with global repository units ; providing an interface for accessing said global repository units and identifying suitable equivalent parts and source(s) of for the non-compliant part(s) based on predetermined criteria ; updating said component validation request with the identified replacements and reviewing compliance of identified replacements by said first electronic device.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, identification of replacements for said non-compliant parts(s) includes evaluation of equivalence of the components.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined criteria for accessing said global repository units and for identifying suitable equivalent parts and source(s) of said non-compliant part(s) include manufacturer part number (MPN), component part number (CPN).
According to another embodiment, the present invention provides a corresponding system for providing component replacement, the system comprising of a first electronic device operable by a component engineering unit and comprising a configured processor to generate a component validation request, the component validation request comprising of components that require compliance validation and said components comprising of a plurality of parts, to determine a degree of compliance of parts of components based on predefined standards, identify missing data based on said determination, to interface with a second electronic device to provide technical assistance and validate parts of said components, to collect ,update and store data based on said interfacing; the second electronic device operable by a component supplier unit and configured to receive the component validation request from said first electronic device , said first electronic device configured to route said component validation request towards the second electronic

device; a third electronic device configured to review and validate said component validation request to perform component qualification, wherein said first electronic device is coupled with said third electronic device and is configured to determine non-compliant part(s) based on said component qualification.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, reviewing compliance of identified replacements by the first processing unit comprises of reviewing of form, fit and function compatibility of identified replacements with predefined standard components.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, reviewed compliance of identified replacements is routed to component data administrator for package verification and upload.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a component data administrator is adapted to review the component validation request and data provided by component qualification and to update the global repository units.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture of the electronic device(s) of the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram depicting a manual component replacement process as part of a high level flow of the overall compliance management process.
Figure 3 illustrates a data collection flow of the present invention.
Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary component supplier interfacing process when missing data is to be identified.
Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary component qualification interfacing when all of the required data is available / has been captured.
Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary workflow for identifying component replacements.

Figure 7 illustrates the exemplary "Data Review and Upload" workflow of the present invention.
Detailed Description
The various features of the preferred embodiment of present invention together with its objects and advantages thereof may be best understood by reference to the description taken in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawing(s) of the architecture.
The present invention provides for a method and system for enabling component replacement processes in an integrated PLM (Product Life Cycle Management) environment to meet RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance regulations.
Figure 1 of the present invention illustrates the exemplary architecture of the electronic devices [100] of the present invention. The electronic device in a typical embodiment may be a desktop computing device, embedded device, or a super computer and may also include any other embodiment not particularly mentioned or described herein. Nonetheless, substantially all embodiments of the electronic devices comprise of a configured processor/CPU [101] carrying out the designated objectives of the present invention. Also, a typical electronic device [100] may also comprise of
- Input devices [102], e.g. including but not limited to a mouse, touchpad, keyboard etc.
- Storage devices [103] e.g. including but not limited to magnetic disks for temporarily or permanently storing data.
Memory [104] e.g. cache memory, Random Access Memory etc. for temporarily storing data and executable instructions.
- Output Devices [105] including display screens.
The present invention may make use of a plurality of electronic devices to achieve the desired objectives of the invention.

For example, in a typical embodiment, a first electronic device may be operable by a component engineering unit to generate a component validation request, to determine a degree of compliance of parts of components based on predefined standards and to identify missing data based on said determination.
Similarly, a second electronic device may be operable by a component supplier unit to receive said component validation request from the first electronic device.
Also, a third electronic device may be configured to review and validate said component validation request to perform component qualification.
However, an ordinary skilled in the art would appreciate, that in different embodiments, a second or third electronic device may be configured to perform the assigned tasks/functionalities of a first electronic device or in any combination thereof. Also, more electronic devices may be added or deleted to said collection of illustrated electronic devices to perform required functions.
Now referring to Figure 2 to illustrate a block diagram depicting a manual component replacement process as part of a high level flow of overall compliance management process.
The first major step in a manual component replacement process is "compliance definition" [201] that comprises of identification of regulatory requirements [211] based on which compliance standards are defined [212].
Thereafter, the next step is identification of products/parts [202] and comprises of identification of products and standards [213], followed by an initial compliance analysis [214]. This is followed by rollups-or comparison of products/parts with a standard. Also, unreported parts are captured and exemptions are updated.
The next major step is integration with supply chain [203] and comprises of notification of suppliers with unreported parts [217], follow-up and collect information from suppliers [218], validate the information as received [219] and updation of compliance information.

Thereafter, impact analysis [204] is carried out on identified assemblies [221], which may be customer/region specific analysis [222]. Thereafter, remediation which could be either with component replacement or could require design changes is carried out [219].
This is the step that present invention avoids i.e. the manual process of identifying suitable replacements for hazardous components and provides an automated RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) component replacement process.
The compliance reporting [205] includes data analysis reports / internal reports [225], customer reports [226] and submission of the same to customers [227]. A typical component replacement process of the present invention is driven by component validation request (CVR) and the process is described below.
Component Engineering (CE) unit/team creates a Component Validation Request (CVR) in the present system of the present invention for each component validation request they receive from Compliance Management unit/team and initiates the CVR workflow. The components that require compliance validation & review are attached with said CVR.
The system provides automated (CVR) workflow process with the following well connected sub processes -
• Data Collection
• Component Supplier Interfacing
• Component Qualification
• Identifying Replacements
• Data Review and Upload
Figure 3 illustrates data collection flow of the present invention. Here, new parts [301] or a component replacement [303] may be released by a Bills of Materials [302] and may require (re)validating compliance with the compliance standards. Also, identified component replacements are validated to form form-fit function and with compliance standards.

A data collection unit (not shown) searches [304] for component data from PLM (Product Life Cycle Management) database [306]. The data is checked for adequacy and accuracy [305] based on parameters such as moisture and temperature resistance, availability of certificate of compliance, solder ability test data etc. [311],
If there is any missing data to be identified [309], as reported by the data collection unit, the component validation request is routed to component supplier unit else if the data is sufficient and accurate the component validation request is routed to "component qualification unit".
Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary component supplier interfacing process when missing data has to be identified. Here the component engineering unit interfaces with component supplier unit in handling technical queries regarding missing information [401]. In case of complex queries [403], the component engineering unit also interfaces with point of escalation (CDA/PE Team), for resolving such queries. Otherwise, an appropriate response is prepared and consolidated based on a predefined query resolution guide [406]. Thereafter, component engineering unit also interfaces with component supplier unit for information requests raised by data collection unit and component qualification unit [407].
Thereafter, the component engineering unit signs an NDA [Non disclosure agreement] [408], if the same is already not in place. (NDA - A nondisclosure agreement is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish to restrict access to by third parties. It is a contract through which the parties agree not to disclose information covered by the agreement. ) Component engineering unit also interacts with the component supplier unit to ensure that a proposed "part change" is free from hazardous components e.g. Lead (Pb) [410] free and also PCN (product change note) is checked, if necessary.
The details of the queries so received are updated in a repository unit [413].
Component engineering unit updates the collected and reviewed information in the system and sign-off the task to proceed for the component qualification unit.

Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary component qualification interfacing when all of the required data is available /has been captured.
The material content is assessed [501] based on predefined specifications [501-a].
Thereafter, component qualification unit reviews a component validation request and is configured to perform validation of RoHS compliance [502] and a RoHS validation Report [502-a] is generated. This is followed by verification of certificate of compliance (CoC) and a confirmation of compliance is generated [503-a]. The component qualification unit then performs an assessment of solderabiiity data [504], tin whisker test applicability and a corresponding report [504-a] is generated. For non tin wisker components, Sn-whisker test data is evaluated. Component suppliers are interfaced with when tin whisker data is not available.
Data is analyzed and gaps (in terms of the difference between the actual values and expected standards) are closed [505] and "qualification" is considered to be complete [508]. For parts that are found to be non-compliant [506], the customer is intimated accordingly [507].
If the "part" under review is still found to be non-compliant, the component validation request is forwarded to an "identified replacements" workflow as illustrated in Figure 6. In case the "part" is found to be compliant, the component validation request is forwarded to "Data Review and Upload" workflow as illustrated in Figure 7.
Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary workflow for identifying component replacements. Here the component engineering unit claims the component validation request and works on the identification of replacement for non-compliant components.
Here, alternate components are identified [601] for inactive parts or for RoHS non¬compliance based on verification of EoL, RoHs, availability and lead time [601-a) and with the help of component databases [603]. Thereafter, it is determined whether the alternate component is available with the same vendor [602]. In case alternate components are not available with the same vendor, the components are identified from other approved vendors [604]. In both the scenarios, alternate components so identified are compared with the

original components [605] based on a predefined "part" comparison checklist [605-a], Thereafter, it is determined whether the form, fit and function of the component part so identified is compatible to the original or not [606].
Now referring to Figure 7, to explain the "Data Review and Upload" workflow, when the "part" is found to be compliant the component validation request is forwarded to said "Data Review and Upload"\NOxY.f\ow.
Here, the component data administrator (CDA) (not shown) reviews the Component Validation Request (CVR) along with the data provided by component qualification unit [702]. In case some "issues" are encountered based on the review of Component Validation Request (CVR), the CVR is reworked upon [701], otherwise replacement of equivalent parts is carried out [704]. Also, the PLM (Project Life Cycle Management Tool) / the database is accordingly updated as applicable [706] [706-a]. Simultaneously, details of "changes" are identified [705], a RoHS compliance report is prepared [707] and list of potential replacements is captured [708].
Thus, in case of identified component replacements, CDA updates the PLM tool with those equivalence parts along with captured review comments by the component qualification unit and identified changes/remarks.
The method and the system of the present invention are integrated with standard global component databases and provides unique UI (User Interface) "Equivalence parts" to help component engineering unit to identify suitable equivalent parts for a given manufacturer part number (MPN). When component engineering unit inputs the component part number in this interface, the other manufacturing equivalent parts (MEPs) from global component databases through SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) calls and populates the information.
The present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention herein shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.

We Claim
1. A method for providing component replacement, said method comprising the steps of
- generating a component validation request by a configured processor of a first
electronic device operable by a component engineering unit said component validation request comprising of components that require compliance validation and said components comprising of a plurality of parts ;
- determining degree of compliance of parts of components based on predefined
standards by said first electronic device;
- Identifying missing data based on said determination , and routing said component
validation request towards a second electronic device operable by a component supplier unit,„by said first electronic device ;
- Interfacing with said second electronic device of the component supplier unit by said
first electronic device for providing technical assistance and validating parts of said components;
- collecting updating and storing data based on said interfacing by the first electronic
device;
- reviewing and validating said component validation request for performing
component qualification by a third electronic device and;
- determining non-compliant part(s) based on said component qualification by said
first electronic device coupled with said third electronic device.
2. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 wherein identifying replacements for said non-compliant parts(s) comprises the steps of
- integrating with global repository units ;
- providing an interface for accessing said global repository units and identifying
suitable equivalent parts and source(s) of for said non-compliant part(s) based on predetermined criteria;
- updating said component validation request with said identified replacements and
reviewing compliance of identified replacements by said first electronic device.

3. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said component validation request is routed directly for component qualification when missing data is not identified based on said determination.
4. A method for providing component replacement as claimed In claim 1 , wherein said reviewing and validation of said component validation request for performing component qualification comprises of
o Validation of RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance
o Verification of certificate of compliance
o Assessment of solderability of data
o Performing tin whisker test
5. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said components are non-TWE components.
6. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 and claim 5 wherein said reviewing and validation of said component validation request for non-TWE components for performing component qualification comprises of
o Evaluation of Sn-whisker test data and; o Interfacing with component supplier unit.
7. A method for providing component replacement as claimed In claim i wherein component validation request is routed for data review and upload when said part is compliant with predefined standards.
8. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of identification of replacements for said non-compliant parts(s) comprises the step of evaluation of equivalence of the components.
9. A method for providing component replacement as claimed In claim i wherein said predetermined criteria for accessing said global repository units and for identifying suitable equivalent parts and source(s) of said non-compliant part(s) comprises of manufacturer part number (MPIM), component part number (CPN).

10. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said suitable equivalent parts are retrieved from global repository units based on service oriented architecture (SOA) calls.
11. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reviewing compliance of identified replacements by said first processing unit comprises of reviewing of form, fit and function compatibility of identified replacements with predefined standard components.
12. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reviewed compliance of identified replacements is routed to component data administrator for package verification and upload.
13. A method for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 10, wherein a component data administrator is adapted to review the component validation request and data provided by component qualification and to update the global repository units.
14. A system for providing component replacement, said system comprising
- a first electronic device operable by a component engineering unit and comprising a
configured processor to generate a component validation request, said component validation request comprising of components that require compliance validation and said components comprising of a plurality of parts, to determine a degree of compliance of parts of components based on predefined standards, identify missing data based on said determination, to interface with a second electronic device to provide technical assistance and validate parts of said components, to collect ,update and store data based on said interfacing;
- the second electronic device operable by a component supplier unit and configured
to receive„said component validation request from said first electronic device , said first electronic device configured to route said component validation request towards the second electronic device;
- a third electronic device configured to review and validate said component validation
request to perform component qualification, wherein said first electronic device is

coupled with said third electronic device and is configured to determine non-compliant part(s) based on said component qualification.
15.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first electronic device is configured to integrate with global repository units, provide an interface to access said global repository units and identify suitable equivalent parts and source(s) for said non-compliant part(s), based on predetermined criteria., update said component validation request with said identified replacements and review compliance of identified replacements.
16.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14, wherein said component validation request is routed directly for component qualification when missing data is not identified based on said determination.
17. A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14, wherein
said reviewing and validation of said component validation request to perform
component qualification comprises of
o Validation of RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance
o Verification of certificate of compliance
o Assessment of solderability of data and
o Performing tin whisker test
18. A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14, wherein said components are non-TWE components.
19. A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14 and claim 18 wherein said review and validation of said component validation request for non-TWE components to perform component qualification comprises of
o Evaluation of Sn-whisker test data and; o Interfacing with component supplier unit.
20.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14 wherein the component validation request is routed for data review and upload when said part is compliant with predefined standards.

21.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14 wherein identification of replacements for said non-compliant parts(s) comprises of evaluation of equivalence of the components.
22.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14 wherein said predetermined criteria to access said global repository units and to identify said suitable equivalent parts and source(s) of said non-compliant part(s) comprises of manufacturer part number (MPN), component part number (CPN).
23.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14 wherein said suitable equivalent parts are retrieved from global repository units based on service oriented architecture (SOA) calls.
24.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14, wherein said review of compliance of identified replacements by said first processing unit comprises of review of form, fit and function compatibility of identified replacements with predefined standard components.
25.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 14, wherein said reviewed compliance of identified replacements is routed to component data administrator for package verification and upload.
26.A system for providing component replacement as claimed in claim 23, wherein a component data administrator is adapted to review the component validation request and data provided by component qualification and to update the global repository units.
Dated this 20th day of June 2011
Of Anand and Anand, Advocates Agents for the Applicants